The Mediterranean Spirit of Music

PABLO SAINZ-VILLEGAS, guitar
“It’s safe to call him the global ambassador of Spanish guitar”— Billboard Magazine

“A classical guitarist with the ability to bring the audience of Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to their feet” — El Español

“Master of the Guitar and an Extraordinary Musician”— Plácido Domingo

“His Spanish character and passion created a magic atmosphere in the hall.” — Thürınger Allgemeine, Germany

“It’s very exciting to see the appreciation of his exquisite artistry growing worldwide. It is a recognition that he so richly deserves!”— John Willıams, Academy Award-Winning Film Composer

Pablo Sainz-Villegas has been acclaimed by the international press as the successor to Andrés Segovia and an ambassador of Spanish culture globally. Since his Lincoln Center debut with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, he has played in more than 40 countries and been invited to play with world-famous orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philharmonic of Israel, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the National Orchestra of Spain, making him a benchmark for the symphonic guitar.

Plácido Domingo has described him as “the master of the guitar” and has had the privilege of recording his new duo album with him, as well as participating in the tribute held in his honor at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid to an audience of over 85,000 along with a concert switch was staged floating on the Amazon River and televised for millions of people worldwide.
His “… virtuosic playing characterized by irresistible exuberance” (The New York Times) make him one of the most acclaimed soloists by prestigious directors, orchestras, and festivals.

Highlights of his international tours with orchestras include the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, the National Orchestra of Spain and the New Zealand Symphony. Last season, Sainz-Villegas made his debut at Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival in front of an audience of 11,000 people and at Praça do Comercio in Lisbon with the Gulbenkian Orchestra.

Pablo has already appeared on some of the world’s most prestigious stages including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Philharmonie in Berlin, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, the Musikverein in Vienna and the National Arts Center in Beijing. The success of his performances translates into repeated invitations from directors such as Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Carlos Kalmar, Juanjo Mena and Alondra de la Parra. A regular performer in concerts of institutional and business representation, he has had the privilege of playing before members of the Spanish Royal Family as well as other heads of state and international leaders.

Pablo Sainz-Villegas has recorded the three concertos for guitar and orchestra by Joaquín Rodrigo, including the popular Concierto de Aranjuez, with the National Orchestra of Spain under the baton of Juanjo Mena. He has also recorded the album “Americano”, a journey through the musical affluence of the American continent, for the record label Harmonia Mundi. Currently, Pablo Sainz-Villegas is an exclusive artist of SONY Classical.
A tireless promoter of development of the repertoire for Spanish classical guitar, Pablo Sainz-Villegas has made numerous world premieres, including ‘Rounds’, which is the first composition for guitar by five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams, as well as for the composers Tomás Marco, David del Puerto and Sergio Assad.

Pablo is a member of the Performing Arts Academy of Spain.
Pablo is a member of the Performing Arts Academy of Spain and boasts an impressive collection of over 30 international awards, including the Andrés Segovia, Francisco Tárrega, and Christopher Parkening trophies. He has also received the “Galardón a las Artes Riojana” and the “Ojo Crítico” Award from Radio Nacional de España, – the first time that this distinction has been granted to a guitarist. As an artist socially committed to the current world, Pablo Sainz-Villegas founded “The legacy of music without borders” in 2006, a philanthropic project whose mission is to bring music to people as a means of humanizing their environment and promoting understanding between different cultures. Thanks to this project he has shared his music with more than 32,000 children and young people in Spain, Mexico, and the United States. Pablo Sainz-Villegas was born in La Rioja in Northern Spain and has lived in New York City since 2001.
Did you know the following fun facts about Pablo?

1. Pablo has one hand significantly bigger than the other.
2. He is the first guitarist in 38 years to be invited to play with the Berlin Philharmonic at the Philharmonie.
3. He stopped taking English accent classes when his manager told him his Spanish accent was part of his uniqueness!
4. He has a deep love for dark chocolate and mezcal from Oaxaca, Mexico.

MISSION
“I do what I do because I believe and have experienced a better world through music in our lives. Music is a perfect vehicle to tell stories, transmit values, erase borders, celebrate diversity and bring people together by sharing our emotions.” – Pablo Sainz-Villegas

Pablo’s desire to accomplish his mission and continually deepen his connection with audiences has led to a growing number of varied off-stage musical encounters and projects that bring music, inspiration and creativity to communities across the globe.

ACTIVIST
Changing the world through music
Considered the people’s guitarist, Pablo began his philanthropic initiatives from the age of eight, playing at retirement homes on Sunday mornings accompanied by his parents. His soulful desire to be a force for positive change, has led Pablo to share the magic of music through his uniquely tailored workshops at schools, outreach concerts and festive community serenades

TEACHER
Inspiring the next generation
Pablo continually shares his passion and knowledge with the next generation of young musicians through Master Classes, online courses and workshops.

COMMUNICATOR
The art of inspiration
Often invited as a speaker and cultural ambassador, he believes that “music belongs to the things we cannot touch in this world, that is what makes it most powerful.” Pablo shares the art of inspiration through cultural dialogues and motivational talks at both cultural and corporate events.

COMMISSIONING NEW WORKS
Creating new music
Throughout his career, Pablo has been an advocate for commissioning new music scores and arrangements for the guitar. Always an adventurer and pushing his own boundaries, Pablo has recently led initiatives with his own compositions.